King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, wrote, “My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.” (Proverbs 7:1-3) This is similar to the spirit of Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible.
How may we view the Bible? How should we treat it, use it? What is its value in the daily grind of living? Where should it stand in our personal list of priorities? This brief section of wisdom from the book of Proverbs gives us an insight into the answers to these questions.
The children’s song claims that “The more we read the Bible, the Bible, the Bible, the more we read the Bible, the happier we’ll be.” Experience proves the truthfulness of this little melody. But the claim goes against the prevailing perception of the “man of the world.”
When people face difficulty or temptation, the human tendency is to try to overcome it ourselves. Human pride naturally leads us away from dependence on God. In some cases, we have spent so little time actually searching out God’s will, there is little knowledge or understanding of the help it can provide, and a corresponding lack of experience in applying its principles to the challenges we face. The end result is an inability to overcome the power of the devil, and a loss of the precious blessings of God.
Here are six brief recommendations for profiting from regular communion with God in his word:
1. Confess sinfulness and the need for God and his will.
2. Pray for God’s help in understanding the directions he provides.
3. Set aside time each day to read and meditate on a portion of scripture.
4. Resolve to “put into practice” the truths learned.
5. Give thanks to God for the help his word gives in living life.
6. Ask God for opportunities to help others see the truth and value of his word and obey its directives.
I hope that, if you haven’t been in the habit of reading the Bible regularly, you’ll begin today. It can change your life for the better.
Larry Sheehy is an elder and pulpit minister at Statesboro Church of Christ. He can be reached at (912) 764-5269.
How may we view the Bible? How should we treat it, use it? What is its value in the daily grind of living? Where should it stand in our personal list of priorities? This brief section of wisdom from the book of Proverbs gives us an insight into the answers to these questions.
The children’s song claims that “The more we read the Bible, the Bible, the Bible, the more we read the Bible, the happier we’ll be.” Experience proves the truthfulness of this little melody. But the claim goes against the prevailing perception of the “man of the world.”
When people face difficulty or temptation, the human tendency is to try to overcome it ourselves. Human pride naturally leads us away from dependence on God. In some cases, we have spent so little time actually searching out God’s will, there is little knowledge or understanding of the help it can provide, and a corresponding lack of experience in applying its principles to the challenges we face. The end result is an inability to overcome the power of the devil, and a loss of the precious blessings of God.
Here are six brief recommendations for profiting from regular communion with God in his word:
1. Confess sinfulness and the need for God and his will.
2. Pray for God’s help in understanding the directions he provides.
3. Set aside time each day to read and meditate on a portion of scripture.
4. Resolve to “put into practice” the truths learned.
5. Give thanks to God for the help his word gives in living life.
6. Ask God for opportunities to help others see the truth and value of his word and obey its directives.
I hope that, if you haven’t been in the habit of reading the Bible regularly, you’ll begin today. It can change your life for the better.
Larry Sheehy is an elder and pulpit minister at Statesboro Church of Christ. He can be reached at (912) 764-5269.